Gang-saw mill



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. M. WILKIN. GANG SAW MILL.

No. 406,324. v Patented July 2, 1889.

am/bow (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. M. WILKIN.

GANG SAW MILL.

No. 406,324. Patent-ed July 2, I889.

5 I II I F Ill llllllihr i S Y a N, PETERS. Pholo Llllmgmpher. Washington, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. WVILKIN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

GANG-SAW MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,324, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed February 1, 1889. Serial No. 298,307. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, I/VILLIAM M. IVILKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gang-Saw Mills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gang-saw mills; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure l is a front elevation of a gang-saw mill having my improvements thereon. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view on the line a: a: of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate corre: sponding parts in all the figures.

A marks the frame-work; B B B B, the saw-frame; S, the saws; C C, the connectingrods, which drive the saw-frame; D, the crankshaft; 61 d d, the cranks of the crank-shaft; D, the balance-wheels; E E E, yokes which receive the crank-pins; F, an incasing-box which closely envelopes the cranks and yokes; H 11 H steam-engine cylinders; I, a counterweight; I, astem connecting one of the steampistons with the counter-weight; J, the valve of the steam-motor; J J J the valve-gear.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows:

Connected with the lower part of the framework A in line with the three cranks of the crank-shaft are placed three steam-cylinders H II H The piston of the middle cylinder moves in opposition to the pistons of the outer cylinders, and a single oscillating valve controls the admission and exhaust of steam for all of the cylinders. This feature is not to be claimed in this connection and is not clearly illustrated, as it forms no part of the present invention, and so far as the invention is concerned it is immaterial, as any other construction of valve may be substituted for the one here shown. The essential features in respect to the steam-cylinders are that they are in line with and their pistons are connected with the several cranks of the crank-shaft and that the middle piston moves in opposition to the other two. As shown in the drawings, the middle crank and piston are connected with the counter-weight I and the outer cranks and pistonsare connected with the saw-frame; but this order may be reversed and not materially affect the utility of other features of the device, and so far as certain features of my invention as 'will be properly summarized in the claims are concerned there may be but one steam-cylinder, which would be properly connected with the middle crank, or there may be only two cylinders, which would be properly connected with the outer cranks. If desired, one of the cylinders may be secondary to the others. The piston of each cylinder is connected with its relative crank by what is sometimes called a Scotch yoke E, and the yokes on the stems of the pistons of the cylinders 11 and H are connected with the rods 0 O, which connect with the saw-frame. The work of reciprocating the saw-frame and the counterweight is effected directly by the several steam cylinders and pistons, while the crankshaft and balance-wheels serve to connect the several engines into a unitary machine, 0perate the valve-gear, and steady and equalize the movement of all the parts.

The cranks and yokes are closely enveloped by the box F, for the purpose of excluding sawdust and dirt from the working parts and affording convenient means for lubricating the working-bearings. To this latter end I propose to exhaust the steam from the enginecylinders into the box F, or the box may be partially filled with a lubricating-fluid, such as oil and water mixed. When the exhauststeam is used, as just mentioned, the exhaustpipe G is connected with the box. On the sides of the box F are placed slides F, opposite the yokes E, and the ends of the yokes are made with faces or bearings e, which set against the faces of the slides.

Sometimes it is desirable to oscillate the saw-frame at the bottom, and when this is done the rods 0 will connect with the yokes E by a joint, as seen in Fig. 2 but when such motion is not to be imparted to the same there need to be no such joint, and in such case the side guides F will not be necessary, as all tendency of the yokes to move sidewise would be prevented by the rigid rods passing through the stuffing-boxes above and below the yokes.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a gang-saw mill, the combination, substantially as described, of a reciprocating sawframe, a reciprocating counter-balance, an intermediate crank-shaft having three cranks, the middle one of which stands opposite the others, three steam-engine cylinders, each of which is in line with one of the cranks of the crank-shaft,and the middle one of which moves opposite from the others,and connections, substantially as set forth, for actuating said reciprocating part-s oppositely and rotating said crank-shaft from said steam-en gine cylinders.

2. In a gang-saw mill, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a reciprocating sawframe, a reciprocating counterweight, an intermediate crank-shaft having three cranks, the middle one of which stands opposite the others, three steam-engine cylinders arranged so that their pistons will move vertically and placed each in line with one of the cranks of the crank-shaft, the middle one of which has its piston moving in opposition to the others, connecting gearing, substantially as described,connecting the middle engine with the said counterweight and the outer engines with the saw-frame, and yokes in each of said connections which engage the contiguous crank of the said crank-shaft.

3. In a gang-saw mill, the combination, sub stantially as set forth, of a reciprocating sawframe and a reciprocating counter-weight, a crank-shaft between said frame and weight which has three cranks, the middle one of which is opposite the others, connections, substantially as described, connecting the said outer cranks with the saw-frame and the inner crank with the counter-weight, and a 'di rect-acting vertical steam-cylinder and piston acting upon one or more 01'' said cranks.

4. In a gang-saw mill, the combination,with a reciprocating sawframe, a reciprocating counter-weight, an intermediate crank-shaft, and a direct-acting steamengine operating said parts, of an inclosing-box which forms a protecting and a lubricating chamber for the crank-bearings, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I a'fiix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

\VILLIAM M. WILKIN.

itnesses:

JNo. K. IIALLOCK, JNo. L. CoNnRoN. 

